Record contracts are just like — I’m gonna say the word – slavery,” Prince said, according to NPR. “I would tell any young artist … don’t sign.”
“Once we have our own resources, we can provide what we need for ourselves,” Prince said. “Jay Z spent $100 million of his own money to build his own service. We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things for themselves.”
Although record contracts benefit the music label, they can still benefit the artist when it comes to mass exposure. In fact, Prince spent the majority of his career signed to a music label that released his music worldwide.
Today, an artist can release their music without a major record label and garner thousands of fans, and under the right circumstances, millions through social media.
Model Aeroplanes are a Dundee based rock band, formed in 2013. Since the release of the first single, Crazy, the band secured a slot on the BBC Introducing Stage at Scotland’s T in the Park music festival. The band band received coverage on several international music sites such as Clash, This Is Fake DIY and Indie Shuffle, and received airplay on Radio 1 along with regional stations. Look for this band to break out on the Scottish music scene.
benbuist@live.co.uk
New Jersey rockers Deal Casino are back with a new EP titled Nika. The band who has created a buzz in the North East has signed with APA and has upcoming shows with Third Eye Blind, Dashboard Confessional and Brick + Mortar. ‘Nika’ was tracked entirely to tapeat Lakehouse Recording Studios in Asbury Park, NJ with producer Jon Leidersdorff to capture that vintage feel that the band believes to be lost on most modern recordings. Baeble notes“it’s easy to spot Deal Casinos influences on their latest EP, as they combine the vigor found in contemporary acts like Cold War Kids with the roots of classic, bluesy American groupslike ZZ Top.”
management@dealcasinomusic.com
Kings favorite XPLOR released a new track ‘Infinite Love‘. The previous track “Heartbreak” caught our attention and we became instant fans. XPLOR is an American synthpop duo formed by Brian Carmona and Vince DiCarlo. The vision of XPLOR is to create fun pop songs with memorable hooks/melodies, and stretch the boundaries of their creativity and abilities. The single “Heartbreak” was written and self produced in Nashville,TN. The band will perform showcases this year upon completion of the E.P. Ultimate Music says this “the track is a festive groovy and summery retro-pop gem, mixed with a lovely 80s tropical atmosphere. If you like St. Lucia, this is your new guilty pleasure for sure.”
reachxplormusic@gmail.com
Apple has 11 million trial subscribers whereas Jay Z’s Tidal only has 770,000 signups. The streaming business has become very competitive but Apple has shown a lot of might in an already crowded market. Here is the breakdown:
Spotify has 75 million active users, 20 million of which are paying subscribers. Deezer has 16 million monthly active users and 6 million paid subscribers worldwide. Napster and Rhapsody have 3 million users, while Jay Z’s Tidal service has 770,000.
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